Indian Premier League’s leading wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal admitted that he was nervous ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, expressing his joy at joining Punjab Kings for a whopping sum of Rs 18 crore. Chahal said he deserved the price, implying that he did not get what he deserved in the last auction.

Punjab Kings, who entered the mega auction in Jeddah with a huge purse, bought Yuzvendra Chahal after a bidding war like SunRisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giant and Chennai Super Kings.

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Despite being one of the leading wicket-takers for RCB till 2021, Chahal was sold for Rs 6.5 core in the IPL 2022 auction to Rajasthan Royals. While foreign spinners including Rashid Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga got big offers, Chahal, who was scandalously released by RCB after the 2021 season, did not spark a bidding war in 2022.

“I was very nervous. I was anxious because whatever I got in the last three years, I got it in one year. But I think I deserve this. I am very excited,” Chahal said at JioCinema during the day. 1 of the mega auction.

“I had some hints. A few of my friends told me that I would go to Punjab Kings. But I didn’t think about how much alone I would be. I was thinking about Rs 12-13 crore. Like you said, I deserve this,” he added.

HAPPY TO WORK WITH RICKY PONTING: CHAHAL

Punjab Kings, who will be coached by Ricky Ponting, have invested big in marquee players by purchasing Shreyas Iyer for a record sum of Rs 26.75 crore. They opted for pacer Arshdeep Singh at Rs 18 crore, bringing the Indian star back to Mohali.

Chahal said he was looking forward to working with Ponting for the first time and discussed his equation with Iyer, who is almost ready to lead the Punjab team.

“I am very excited. There is Ponting, sir. I will work with him for the first time, I will try to do my best,” he said.

“I am very excited. I have a very good bond with Shreyas Iyer. I will learn a lot from Ricky Ponting sir. And it is near my home, it is Chandigarh and earlier it was Jaipur.

Speaking about the changing nature of the T20 game, with teams scoring 200-plus with alarming regularity, the leg-spinner said: “Definitely, I have played at Sawai Mansingh, I have played at Chinnaswamy as well. The impact player rule has arrived. , so limits matter. Earlier, when you conceded 40 in 4 overs, you felt bad. Now you feel it’s an integral part of the game.

Chahal became the first bowler in IPL history to take 200 wickets. With 18 wickets in the 2024 season, he took his tally to 205 wickets in 160 matches.